LADIES SUFFER DERBY DEFEAT

CITY's Ladies succumbed to a 3-0 defeat and only a second loss of the season to local rivals Ipswich Town.

Manager Emma Fletcher said after the game: “We are all so disappointed about this evening, I feel the occasion got to a few of the younger players and we just didn’t compete in the 1st half.

"When you find yourself 3-0 down at half time you face a huge task to turn it round whilst ensuring you don’t completely role over. However the girls worked hard in the second half and whilst we didn’t score we can take a little bit of pride back to Norfolk, regroup and go again on Sunday."

Facing their first local derby of the season on a Thursday night at the home of Ipswich Wanderers, City looked to make it four wins out of five and claim the 'Pride of Anglia' bragging rights in the process.

But City struggled to create the chances that had been inspiring them to wins in previous weeks and spured on by a good home crowed Ipswich came out of the blocks firing on all cylinders.

The tractor girls nearly took the lead nine minutes in with City thankful for the crossbar on this occasion. However two minutes later Ipswich won a corner and whilst the initial shot was somehow blocked by Fiona Coombes in City’s goal she stood no chance with the rebound, resulting in Ipswich taking the lead 1-0.

City were playing the better football at times, but with little conviction in the final third struggled to carve out a clear opening.

Ipswich continued to threaten on the counter attack and their midfield enjoyed a considerable amount of space. As a result, the home side doubled their lead on 34 minutes following the breakdown of a City attack, and quickly added a third just before the stroke of half time.

Half time: Ipswich Town Ladies 3-0 Norwich City Ladies

City came out for the second half with more conviction, restricting Ipswich to just a handful of chances.

It was Ipswich who came closest to scoring again however with a fourth almost coming there way, buta combination of Fiona Coombes in goal and centre half Kate Parsons eventually chasing back to clear off the line, kept the deficit at three.

City's Ladies continued to push for a route back into the match and just edged the possession count in the second half, but they couldn’t find the killer ball and never looked like scoring and reducing the deficit.